I'm 85% sure my child has Asperger's. Should I get an official diagnosis?

Question

My son has shown many signs of aspergers over the past years. He will be 10 next month, and his symptoms are becoming more prevalant. He obsesses over things. Specifically, science related issues and "pokemon". He speaks as if he is a little adult and takes things very litterally . He has poor fine and gross motor skills. He hates to write. Loves to read. He gets very frustrated when things do not occur as he "knows that they should". Socially, he struggles and quite frankly this is my largest concern at this time because he is noticing the rejection that he encounters with peers. He often wants "alone time". Though I work to teach him social and coping skills, his difficulties are becoming more noticeable with age. My question is this: I'm confident that I could take him to a specialist and he would be officially diagnosed. I'm concerned that this would cause more "labeling" and insecurities. Is it worth it?, especially since there is no official treatment ?

Answer 1

My father just reminded me that I was diagnosed at age 13, my Autism was due to the MMR Vaccine  -  I have a major problem with crackpot scientists who say otherwise  -  I'm the only one in my family whose had that patheteic "Vaccine" (if you can call it that) and am the only one who has Autism in my family so I'll only say this to them: EXPLAIN  THAT  ONE  TO  ME,  CRACKPOTS!!!

I sure as h**l don't know the answer to that, but I'm sure as h**l convinced that they can't come clean with an ACCURATE answer...

so I'm going to say this:

it is best hat he gets diagnosed ASAP!!!

this will help him greatly if he needs all the attention you feel he needs (and actually does need)...

and I agree with that...

I am almost similar to your son in a way...

but... however, I do a lot of writing yet find less time to read  -  not that I don't read of course!

I often feel it neccessary to be left alone but others just want me to join in on their "fun" when I don't want to...

why? because they see that I'm always alone and that I need someone...

but thing is... yeah? when I actually wanna hang around with people... NO  ONE  WANTS  TO  BE  WITH  ME!!!

so... there is the dilema of my life...

so that's why I usually feel like having my "alone time" as you so rightly put it (never heard it being called that before but HEY! it's good that people know these things, right? learn new things everyday, right?)

and also I don't wanna get my novels published by someone whose only interested in making their wallets look fatter when infact they should be more interested in their clients...

I wanna get my novels published in a typeface that I fell comfortable with and that I know looks perfect with my novels but you think that will happen?

no... it won't...

why? coz people like "publishers" (if they can call themselves that) won't allow YOU as an author to have the overall say in how the book gets published  -  even if it does look good with a particular typeface  -  which I think is WRONG!

so I have a way to chalenge them... but I won't tell you just yet  -  you'll just have to wait a few years...

I have become "obssessed" (as some have so foolishly said) with Vampyr (an old spelling, so leave me alone!!!) and Majik (my spelling not yours, so GO  AWAY!!!) so you see what a mess people have "created" in my life? I'm not "obsessed" with them I just have a lasting desire to become a Vampyr and to study Majik...

it would help me to write my novels...

I do read the myths and legends to further my skills and knowledge but sometimes I just have to recreate the stereotyped up images of the "Vampire" and of the "Fairy" (I hate those words I prefer to use these: "Vampyr" and "Faerie") so... yeah...

If you fell it is neccessary then do so... I feel it is neccessary in your sons case... he sounds like he has a worse case of Autism...

I feel sorry for him and I should feel lucky but that would be pushing it too hard on both you and him... so I won't say I feel luck when someone else has to experience more pain and suffering than I...

My heart truly goes out to you both...

with the luv that you deserve

Njord...

h**l!!! I don't even know you but hey... I still feel "compelled/obliged" (can't be sure which best describes that feeling) to say that... so take care... and do your best in helping your son get the help he actually needs...

=D

[NOTE: I'm not one for labels either...]

Answer 2

You need to go through the process and have him properly diagnosed. His label, how i hate that term, will determine what services he will receive. If he is not labeled under asbergers then he will not receive the necessary service to help him become a productive person.

Where i live, we have a school that has an awesome aspbergers program within the main school system, most kids are integrated to the fullest extent, in regular classrooms, with pull outs for their identified special areas of concern. The teachers that work with aspbergers are highly trained to help the student excel, but if you do not get him properly diagnosed, they can not, legally, do anything for him in the areas he needs.

IEP's are strange and they come with identifiers that determine what services a child can receive.

Getting an aspbergers diagnoses is not easy and requires much work on the part of the parent.

Good luck and stay strong, it will become frustrating.

Answer 3

Hi,

I would take him to a reputable homeopath that has experience with Autism or Aspergers. I strongly believe that this IS a disorder related to vaccination in a large percentage of cases and a good homoepath will do what they can without interferring with the childs immune system, by using gentle remedies that do not produce side effects that most traditional medicines can. Homeopaths can get amazing results with some children, not all, but it is certainly worth a try I would think, and can do no harm. I wish you well, and do you and your son a favour and go down an alternative path and don't just accept what the Drs tell you, if it is, that nothing can be done.

Answer 4

My video might help you: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbgUjmeC-...

Answer 5

I'm pretty sure he has Aspergers.

Answer 6

Yes, get the diagnosis.  I've posted an answer on another quesiton of yours about an IEP.  

It's hard as a parent to know that there is something different about your child and what labeling them is going to do to them.  It's not a label, it's a diagnosis.  It's a way of getting him help (through school, social skills training) that he needs.

I can sit there all day & tell my son what is acceptable socially and try to teach him about the world and why things are the way they are.  That isn't what he needs.  The therapists are trained in these areas and they really do break through with these kids.  My son made a complete 360 with his social skills.  Simple things that I couldn't get through with him.

Watching him interact with other kids was the hardest thing for me.  I wanted to cry at times at how hard it was for him to get someone to play with him.  Sure, he could play with younger kids.  They're just excited to have an older kid play with them.  But to watch other 8 year olds laugh at him or just plain ignore him is very hard.

Luckily....the light at the end of the tunnel is that social skills training also tackles the communication aspect of it too.  He is capable of the "give & take" in conversations now.  It just takes time.

Also, getting the school behind you helps.  His classmates thought he was odd, bratty, selfish & difficult at the beginning of the year.  Once we understood that he had Asperger's & couldn't help it we took the time to read "all cat's have Asperger's Syndrome" to the class and have a little party for them.  It did wonders for him.

The kids began to understand him better and became his friend.  They stood up for him whenever other kids tried to bully him.

I've said this before, a label is a label is a label.   My son understands what Asperger's is and he loves to explain it to people.  He knows he's special and he's positive about it.  He's a science whiz and tells people he's going to be a scientist or the next Bill Gates.  He knows now that he's not wierd and understands that it's the AS that makes noises, smells & textures unbearable at times.  

And as far as treatment goes...so what if there's no offical treatment.  There are solutions....social skills training & understanding.  I hope I helped.  I feel like I rant sometimes.....

Answer 7

Hello,

I would say that the diagnosis would probably help him in the long run, because then he would know "why" he feels the way he does and is inclined to behave the way he is. Now is a great time to learn.

I have Aspergers, and I never got a diagnosis. Looking back, it would have been very helpful, because I always wondered what was "wrong" with me. I was lucky though to have a supportive family, who helped me learn coping skills.

I have worked hard to get the social skills as well. Some of them I do quite well. Others I think will always be like a second language. But definitely get the diagnosis. And then see what services are available. This would likely be the best thing for your son.

If you have more questions or are looking for more resources, feel free to check out my website:

www.sensoryintegrate.com

You will also see my recently published book, Raging Horrormoans on there, in which I use material I had  written in junior high school and reflect back on it now. You may find it particularly enlightening given that your son will be that age in just a few years.

Good Luck, and I hope this helps.

Jessica

Answer 8

If you get it diagnosed maybe later in life if he cannot function to keep a job he would be able to recieve social security & stay on your medical insurance. I do however realize he most likely is a very bright & intelligent boy. My brother is 14 & has Aspergers. He was very much into Pokemon too. Best of Luck to you and your son.

Answer 9

I would get him diangnos then that way he can get help because its just going to get harder and harder when he gets older check out this forum they have a special parent area. http://www.wrongplanet.net/forums.html

Answer 10

Unless you get a professional to diagnose him there won't be any help out there for him.  The schools require a psychiatrist to diagnose Aspergers before they will work with you on it.  Labeling is usually a bad thing but with Autism it is necessary because they need extra help in order to grow and learn.  There are treatments out there for some of the things that affect their lives including if they have anxiety and councling is recommended atleast for awhile to learn how to function better in society.

Answer 11

Of course you need an official diagnosis. There is plenty of interventions they can do. They will help him with his fine and gross motor skills and there are social groups to help him learn the skills needed

Answer 12

I would highly recommend an official diagnosis.

AS affects every aspect of his life, from the friends he'll make in school, down to the food he eats at home. Everything is distorted and affected by it. With an official diagnosis, you will be able to say, "Hey! That's his disorder!" As opposed to, "Well it could be his disorder..." Most people would like to know for sure.

My family often times forced things on me that had they known of my disorder they would have never forced on me. But we didn't know at the time and they made many , many mistakes as far as how they treated me and have still not owned up to their responsibility of more than likely instigating and making worse my already bad disorder.

But there are many benefits to a proper diagnosis. Later in life if it's determined he's disabled, he can get on Social Security. In college, by mandate of the ADA of 1990, he must receive student support services when requested. These SSS could manifest in any number of ways including longer test taking time. I even had one instructor who knew about my disability and he went easy on me all semester! He didn't just pass me, but he didn't hold me to as high a standard as the other students I guess you could say. Another thing I got to take smoke breaks during class and my teachers really didn't care.

Also while he is in grade school certainly there would be support services for him there.

Also, with an official diagnosis, you can begin the process of accepting treatment for this disorder. I personally go to a counselor and a doctor, and both of them think I have Asperger's but I also have various issues that currently do not fit the diagnostic criteria for anything, so maybe I have a completely new disorder!

So that sums it up. Support services in grade school, high school, college, some jobs will even be more understanding if they recognize his disorder, and finally, you can begin to accept treatment. Also, SS disability is a great opportunity. Too many pros to outweigh the cons, which I really can't anticipate anyway.

So yes, I would highly recommend getting an official diagnosis.

Answer 13

While there is no cure, there ARE official treatments.  Mainly these take the form of special social training.

Because of a lack of social skills, about 2/3rds of aspies never marry and die alone.  Many at their own hands.

Get him labeled so he qualifies for that social training.

EDIT: I am totally amazed that some irresponsible person gave me a thumbs down.  He may not like the facts that I have presented here, but there is no reason to shoot the messenger.